Shane McClanahan snapped a two-start losing streak, pitching six innings with poise for the Tampa Bay Rays, who once again passed the Baltimore Orioles for the AL’s final wild-card game on Saturday. by 8-2.
Benches and bullpens emptied briefly after Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks struck out Robinson Chirinos to end the eighth inning.
Fairbanks had been unhappy that at-bat after Chirinos was given a timeout as the pitcher was preparing to throw. Coming off the mound, Fairbanks said something to the Baltimore receiver.
Chirinos turned around and walked toward the pitcher, sparking the altercation.
Ryan Mountcastle was hit by a pitch from former Orioles pitcher Jimmy Yacabonis with two outs in the ninth. The ball didn’t seem intentional, and tempers didn’t heat up again.
McClanahan (11-5) allowed two runs and seven hits as the Rays improved to 8-12 since the All-Star break.
Jose Siri had three hits and three runs scored, including a home run by Taylor Walls, who drove in two with his shot in the eighth.
The defeat went to the debutant DL Hall (0-1).
For the Orioles, Venezuelans Anthony Santander 4-1, Rougned Odor 3-2 with an RBI, Chirinos 4-2 with an RBI. The Mexican Ramón Urías 4-1 with a run scored. Dominican Jorge Mateo 3-1 with a run scored.
For the Rays, Cubans Yandy Díaz 5-1 with a run scored, Randy Arozarena 3-2 with a run scored and one produced. Mexican Isaac Paredes 5-1 with a run scored and two RBIs. The Dominicans Francisco Mejía 4-2 with an RBI, Siri 4-3 with three runs scored. Panamanian Christian Bethancourt 4-0.